online medical dictionary | definition of vindicate

1. To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim. "Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain? The birds of heaven shall vindicate their grain." (Pope)

2. To maintain or defend with success; to prove to be valid; to assert convincingly; to sustain against assault; as, to vindicate a right, claim, or title.

3. To support or maintain as true or correct, against denial, censure, or objections; to defend; to justify. "When the respondent denies any proposition, the opponent must directly vindicate . . . That proposition." (I. Watts) "Laugh where we must, be candid where we can, But vindicate the ways of God to man." (Pope)

4. To maintain, as a law or a cause, by overthrowing enemies.

5. To liberate; to set free; to deliver. "I am confident he deserves much more That vindicates his country from a tyrant Than he that saves a citizen." (Massinger)

6. To avenge; to punish; as, a war to vindicate or punish infidelity. "God is more powerful to exact subjection and to vindicate rebellion." (Bp. Pearson)

Synonyms: To assert, maintain, claim. See Assert.

Origin: L. Vindicatus, p. P. Of vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge. See Vengeance.

(01 Mar 1998)